Parkes Spacemen were left to lament a mounting injury toll and a coat of goal post paint in their 18-16 major semi-final loss to CYMS in Dubbo last Saturday.
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Star fullback Sam Dwyer, scorer of 20 tries in 17 appearances to put himself firmly in Group XI Best and Fairest contention, suffered a broken thumb trying to prevent a CYMS try after only 10 minutes.
Dwyer underwent surgery yesterday evening to have a plate put in his hand in an attempt to be right for next weekend’s preliminary final.
Back rower Hayden Robinson, in his first appearance since a heavy concussion at Narromine on August 1, was forced from the field after only three minutes with a shoulder problem.
To add injury to insult, centre Michael Mitchell limped from the action after an hour as the Spacemen soldiered on after trailing 14-0 at one stage.
Robinson is unlikely to feature again this season and Mitchell is in doubt for next Sunday’s final.
With both sides scoring three tries, Parkes were left to rue Jesse Parker’s third conversion attempt from a wide angle which struck the upright, depriving the Spacemen of a six point buffer after 70 minutes.
It was a contest the Spacemen could have and should have won, having trailed 14-0 before scoring three unanswered tries to lead 16-14 despite a massive error count.
A penalty five minutes from time proved critical with CYMS claiming the winning try five tackles later.
For the second consecutive week, the Spacemen enjoyed a 9-4 penalty count and earned enough ball to overcome a CYMS side playing their second game in a month.
In a real forwards battle, Brandon Tago, Tino Ionatana and replacement Ben Nash (who played 77 minutes with great gusto) were arguably the Spacemen’s best while half Alex Prout proved a superb link to his outside backs who all held their own against nimble opponents.
Under skipper Dennis Moran, the Spacemen need to regroup quickly during the week to try to earn a grand final berth.
Parkes went into the match at full strength for the first time this season, but lost the returning Robinson with a shoulder concern in the third minute.
Enjoying first use of a serviceable breeze, CYMS dominated early, a Pellow 40-20 providing the platform for a soft Luke Jenkins try beside the posts after eight minutes.
Five minutes later, fullback Cubby Shipp scored a great solo try from 40 metres for 12-0 as the CYMS go forward continued to worry the Spacemen.
With Dwyer also forced off, the Spacemen bench resources were fully tested.
Indeed the side battled on with 15 players for the vast majority of the contest on a sunny, sultry afternoon.
With Prout, Tago and Nash prominent, Parkes finally gathered their composure and threatened the CYMS line without success.
A Naden penalty goal edged CYMS to 14-0 after 33 minutes, but against the run of play, Tago scooped up a loose ball on the Dubbo quarter for Kevin Frank to open Parkes’ account.
Down, but far from out at 14-6 at oranges, the Spacemen started the second session full of enterprise and conviction, but sadly their execution was again astray.
Both sides struggled for ball control as the minutes ticked by with the Spacemen guilty of losing the ball four times within three tackles.
Finally the Spacemen held the ball for six and a deft Moran grubber which rebounded off the uprights enabled the trailing Ionatana to score.
Parker goaled for 14-12 to set the scene for a tense final quarter hour.
The Spacemen lifted to hit the front for the first time in the match, the diminutive Prout finishing a sustained attacking raid for an important try after 69 minutes.
Parker’s goal attempt struck the uprights, but at 16-14 the Spacemen had lifted the tempo appreciably.
With five minutes on the clock, CYMS’ fourth penalty proved the defining moment.
It established field position, with centre Chapman capitalising with a try in the corner on the sixth tackle against a desperate Parkes defence.
To their credit the Spacemen fought to the wire, a last gasp Moran blind side move on the siren ending with a dropped ball as the minor premiers breathed a sigh of relief to get such a narrow verdict.
Earlier Parkes’ League Tag ladies were gallant in defeat.
With limited numbers they led minor premiers Westside 10-0 at one stage, only to succumb 18-16, the same score as the first grade fixture.
CYMS 18 (K. Cubby-Shipp, J. Chapman, L. Jenkins tries; M. Naden 2, C. Pellow goals) defeated PARKES 16 (K. Frank, A. Prout, T. Ionatana tries; J. Parker 2 goals).
Referee, Simon Hartis. Penalties - Parkes 9-4.
Gate - $8642 at Caltex Park, Dubbo.
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SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
Major Semi-finals
Firsts - CYMS 18 def Parkes 16; Reserves - Westside 30 def Forbes 12; Juniors - CYMS 22 def Forbes 14; League Tag - Westside 18 def Parkes 16.
Minor semi-finals
Firsts - Wellington 28 def Westside 18; Reserves - Macquarie 10 def CYMS 6; Juniors - Macquarie 24 def Parkes 8; League Tag - Nyngan 14 def Wellington 6.
Preliminary finals next Sunday
Firsts - Parkes v Wellington; Reserves - Forbes v Macquarie; Juniors - Forbes v Macquarie; League Tag - Parkes v Nyngan.
